'Aram Nagar': Struggle In Bollywood And The Neighbourhood Of Hope

I walk around Aram Nagar, I cannot help myself but wonder how did it get its name?

There is no ‘aram’ (repose) here in a place where everybody is in a hurry—for auditions, for rehearsals, for a career. It has become so much a part of our lingo we hardly think about the nomenclature.

When people use the word struggle when referring to life in Mumbai, they are essentially talking about the ‘Aram Nagar syndrome’. I know of people for whom life in Mumbai revolves around Aram Nagar. There are people who wake up, go for auditions or theatre rehearsals/workshops, roam around the cafes in the vicinity and then have house parties in Inlaks Nagar, a residential area nearby.

Then there are those who have transcended the metaphorical struggle phase of Mumbai. They are seen walking around Aram Nagar in the evenings or seen sitting in an expensive cafe, drinking black coffee along with an Esse Lights cigarette, talking about the randomness of Mumbai and life in general. They avoid entering Aram Nagar unless they have some serious work, like meeting a director or giving an in-person audition. It seems they do not want to be confused with people who are ‘struggling’ in Aram Nagar. The Aram Nagar syndrome is real. It is about being trapped in a life you do not want to live. You want to escape it, but it takes years for the escape velocity to work. You become the protagonsit from Groundhog Day.

A Home to Refugees

Post-Partition India had many refugee camps across the country for people coming from Pakistan. Aram Nagar was one of those many refugee camps. At the time, it was one of the suburbs of the city of Bombay. Decades later, it is still referred to as a suburban colony of Mumbai. But it has now become an integral part of the city. There are articles on the Internet referring to it as the ‘Silicon Valley’ of the Indian entertainment industry. That is quite an interesting phrase to use for a locality which is full of dust, haphazardly made houses and unpaved roads.

What makes it interesting is the fact that historically it has been a colony of people who had to leave their homes and settle in Mumbai. Even today, it works as a refugee camp—a well-organised refugee camp where people have hope that the future will be better. It has not changed its basic characteristic. The name ‘aram’, probably, was a way to assure the refugees that things will get better. Actors, writers and directors from all across the country also come to Aram Nagar looking for that assurance. And it gives that assurance.

People in Aram Nagar do not say ‘No’ to you to your face. They use a wonderful phrase, like “We shall work together the next time”, giving hope to those who come for discussions in Aram Nagar or to the Mumbai entertainment industry in general.

Auditions, Auditions, Auditions

Aram Nagar is home to numerous casting agencies, which include Mukesh Chhabra Casting Company, Casting Bay, Castink, Anti-Casting and Kunal M Shah Casting Company, among others. More than 30 casting companies, big and small, are working out of Aram Nagar. That is an impressive number.

A stroll around Aram Nagar will introduce you to many faces standing outside the ‘bungalows’—ill-shaped two-storey houses with a decent carpet area—with dreamy eyes and sweating faces, waiting for their turn to perform a scene given to them over a WhatsApp message by a casting associate.

Casting associates are an interesting tribe. They are, generally, actors who have started working with a casting company in order to stay well-informed about upcoming auditions. They are treated as interns in order to justify the low payment they are given. They are paid Rs 5000–10000 a month even by big casting companies. But they do not complain as they are happy to ‘network’ while earning a bit. They are also allowed to give auditions, which helps them dream infinitely and continue working with meagre salaries.

Networking is key in Aram Nagar. People are often seen rubing shoulders with similar people, with similar aspirations and similar struggles. But they network because somebody has told them to network with as many people as possible. These networks help them stay informed about the next audition. And the cycle continues.

Theatrewala Adda

In probably the last 7–8 years, Aram Nagar has seen the emergence of many theatre venues. These are essentially modelled on black-box theatres with a seating capacity of 30–100. Unlike Delhi, there is no specific place for theatre activities in Mumbai. Prithvi Theatre has its own limitations as it has to deal with 50–70 theatre groups, which have been working for years. Obviously, it is difficult for a new theatre group to get a date to perform at Prithvi Theatre. Other places are too expensive to rent out for theatre-related activities.

The resilience of Aram Nagar has offered an alternative to this problem in the form of the numerous theatre venues. These venues, like Veda Factory, Kala Shetra, Being Association, Creativity Adda, Le Chakallas and Mumba Studios, to name a few, are affordable and also help generate employment for many actors and directors. More importantly, they keep people occupied in art-related work. Theatre studios are available for hire for theatre, film and dance rehearsals. There are many venues which have Instagram Reel-friendly lighting to attract social media enthusiasts and influencers.

Theatre is an interesting space indeed. Young people are not paid enough, yet they work tirelessly with theatre groups hoping somebody important will spot them, which may have happened only in stories making the rounds in Aram Nagar.

But then people do find their purpose, eventually. Theatre gives a sense of belonging, a purpose to a seemly purposeless life. You find your partners in the hustle. It is not an easy space. After all, there is hardly any ‘aram’. You are always on your toes. You are on your own. You do not have childhood friends or family to fall back on. Theatre is the only hope in a seemingly difficult place.

Searching for Aram

I know of people who have accepted life in Aram Nagar. They have navigated their way in Mumbai and Aram Nagar offered a sense of belonging to them. A few months ago, we were rehearsing for my play ‘Patna Ka Superhero’, which was supposed to open at Prithvi Theatre in August 2022. We rehearsed the play for a month and a half in Aram Nagar at various theatre spaces. In the process, I came across people who have found their mojo in Aram Nagar. There are people who have opened small cafes in the neighbourhood. Some have opened up rehearsal spaces. Mumbai is an expensive city. People often find different ways to ensure they pay their rent on time. Many people have found their calling here probably because they have spent a good deal of time in the area.

In a city known to be fast-paced, it is good to know there is a space for them to rest. Even when nothing works, there is hope in Aram Nagar. There is, of course, an ocean to add to the romanticism of the space. If things go wrong, you can walk to Versova beach and watch the greatest show on earth, the sunset.

(This appeared in the print edition as "The Neighbourhood Of Hope")

(Views expressed are personal)

Nihal Parashar is a writer and actor based in Mumbai